A Q on emergency services in US

[AVGWarhawk]

Sirens run 24/7 here. Unless it is what is called a silent B&E. This means a breaking and entering is in progress and the cops do not want the perp to know they are coming. Sirens off.

[Betonov]

OK, thanks for all the answers

It's a regional thing then

[Platapus]

When I was riding on the squads in Nebraska, it depended on where we were and the individual case

In residential areas, we rolled in on the scene with lights only and used the siren only at intersections or when someone was too stupid to notice an EMS squad behind them (yes these types do exist). The rational was that sirens only tend to attract people.

In industrial areas, We rode in with lights and sirens.

On the way to the hospital we rode with lights and sirens all the time. Many times if it was a call in a residential area and it was in the dead of night, we might kill the siren until we get out of the neighbourhood, but that was usually up to the driver.

[Penguin]

People here should use the sirens only to raise attention, but usually they keep them on in heavy traffic or in the cities during the day, would be a bugger to turn them on and off at every intersection. At night they turn them off most of the time, but are free to use them if necessary.

Originally Posted by Platapus

we rolled in on the scene with lights only and used the siren only at intersections or when someone was too stupid to notice an EMS squad behind them (yes these types do exist). The rational was that sirens only tend to attract people.

I'm sure that the drivers in Slovenia also follow this practive in emergency cases, I cannot imagine that they put the need for silence before a human life

[Gargamel]

In the US, it's a liability question.

If we are running hot (Lights and sirens), then we need to have both on. If we were to get in an accident, and we didn't have one of the two running, then we are GUARANTEED to be found liable for anything that resulted. I personally know a medic who served jail time for not fully clearing (making sure all traffic was stopped) an intersection, and an resultant accident killed some people, even though he had the green light.

In the state of Ohio, Emergency vehicles are forbidden to break the speed limit unless we are running hot. We all have seen the cops do it all the time, and if you wanted to, you could report them. And when we are running hot, we are limited to 10 mph over max. There is also this clause in the Ohio Revised Code that states that we will proceed with "due regard". That means if anything happens, and good lawyer would be able to blame us for it.

So anytime I would be in a hurry, and just not my normal speeding like everybody else, I would turn on both the lights and sirens, any time, any where. The only time I would not use them is under special circumstances, like in heavy fog or snow I'll reduce the number of lights flashing so they don't blind me.

[Sledgehammer427]

Gargamel, you work an ambulance right?
those things have more lights than a rock concert.

[Betonov]

Originally Posted by Penguin

I'm sure that the drivers in Slovenia also follow this practive in emergency cases, I cannot imagine that they put the need for silence before a human life

Don't think so, They use the horn (which is not a regular car horn, more like a train horn) if someone wont move, but the sirens are pretty much off.
The way I think of it, my country is pretty much open spaces and lights can be seen from very far away, and durin night time roads are also mostly empty and even if the driver didnt saw the lights the ambulance can simply overtake him without any problems or slowdown

But if the need arises they'll turn the sirens on. The driving culture here is on the level of neandretals with bumper cars, not as bad as greece but baaaad. And cops will never give a ticket to an ambulance driver, even though silence during night is mandatory by law

[August]

Originally Posted by Betonov

OK, thanks for all the answers

It's a regional thing then

There might be in some cases state standards to follow but actually it's pretty much up to the individual towns and cities.